Last-demonstrator.



PATENTBD MAY 19. 1908. E. A. EASTMAN. LAST nzmous'rnnon.

APPLIOAIIOI FILED AUG. l. "07.

888,149. LAST-DEMONSTRATOR. ER- \m NEST A. EASTMAN, Chica 0, HI, assignor a of one-half to Crawfor McGregor ,& Canby 00., Dayton, Ohio, a Corporation.

, Filed Aug. 2, 1907. Serial No. 386,730. To all whom it mag/ concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST A. EASTMAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Last-Demonstrators, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings representing like parts. In my Patent No 857,552, of June 18,1907, I I have set forth at length the foot positioning control of the heel end of a last in the manufaeture of a shoe, and my present invention provides means for visually demonstrating or l designating to the observer the position which the axis of the foot will be compelled to occupy by any given heel, said means preferably consisting of an indicating bar or rod, 3 so mounted and constructed as to be capable of coinciding with the vertical plane of the center line of the last or bottom-pattern of my above mentioned patent. The indi eating means, whether it be a bar or any 1 other device, indicates the direction or location of the center line with reference to the position of the heel end of the last, and, beieving the invention to be broadly new, I intend to claim the same broadly herein.

; In the drawings Figure 1 shows in side elevation one embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, and Fig. 3 a 3 fragmentary horizontal section; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the securing end of the indicator bar; and Figs. 5 and6 are sectional details similar to Fig. 3, showing modifiedconstructions.

1 Referring first to the referred construction shown in Figs. 1-3, provide in connection with any forepart l a heelpart 2 carrying a forwardly extending straight directing 1 bar 3, herein shown as downturned at its rear 1 end 4, where it is provided with a securing rib 5 and alining flange 6, secured in place by screws 7. For the purpose of com arison with the same last having a difilirently formed heel, I make the heel-part 2 removable by any suitable means, a dovetail 8 being herein shown secured to the rear end of the forepart to cooperate with a groove 9 in the front wall of the heelpart, the two lastparts being severed by such lines of cut as will enable them to be movably secured together in definite relation, said line of out bein herein shown as a straight or plane verticaI out 10.

The indicatin means 3 is secured at the very center of the back of the heel, 'l. 6., at the oint 2 in my before mentioned patent, for emonstrating the center line of the imacacia SPECIFICATION S OF PATENTSMAY 19,1908.

proved last of my said patent, or at the point 1 in said patent for demonstrating the center line of the old-last construction of last shown in dotted lines in my said patent. Thus, to indicate the exact position of the axis of the foot (which corresponds to the center line of the bottom-pattern), according to my improved last, the heel-part- 2 of my last is slid into place on the forcpart, as shown in the drawings, with 'the result that the indicator bar 3 shows clearly above the last the exact )osition of the center line if drawn on the bottom of the last and to indicate the center line of the old-last construction, the heelpart 2 shown in the drawings is removed, and another heelpartis slid in place, having the same construction excepting that its side and rear end contour is that of said old-last, which, as fully explained in. my before mentioned patent, has the center of the back of its heel positioned so that the indicator bar would extend in the direction of the dot-ted line 11, Fig. 2.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have indicated the demonstrating means as having specific differences of construction over that just explained, Fig. 5 showing a heel-part 12 con nected to the forepart by a vertical flexible strip or central hinge 13 which permits the hecl-part 12 to rock or swing like a rudder with relation to the forepart 1. In Fig. 6 I have shown a heel-part 1a hinged at 15 to the forepart 1, and provided with an adjusting screw 16 passing longitudinally through the heel-part to engage or bear against the forepart 1 for shifting the position of the heel- )art with relation to the forepart. These heel-parts carry the indicator bar the same as the heel-part 2, and, in both modified constructions, the position of the indicating means with relation to the forepart is varied by changing the position of the back center of the heel-part toward one side or the other, according as it is desired to demonstrate the effect on the foot of throwing the side and back center of the heel (and hence of the counter-portion of the shoe), further to one side or the other.

In use, supposing that a shoeman has an old last whose style be particularly desires, but he wishes to demonstrate clearly the kind of heel which will produce the most comfortable and correct shoe, he saws off the last to receive the guide 8 and then tries one kind of heel after another thereon, as shown in Figs. 13, each heel hving secured thereto an indicating bar, or, he fastens to the rear end of the sawed last a swinging heel-part as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and, in either case, he notes the exact position of the heel-part with relation to the forepart when the indicator bar 3 )oints in the direction shown in full lines in ig. 2, and in this way ascert-ains the correct position or kind of heel required for the last in order to accomplish the object stated. My invention enables the last-maker, salesman, shoe manu facturer, or retailer, to demonstrate Visually with perfect certainty and clearnes s the exact heel contour or outline necessary for a given forepart to provide a last for making a shoe which will compel the axis of the foot to come in the desired predetermined position in the shoe.

While I have primarily intended my invention to demonstrate the desirability and advantages of my last, as shown and set forth in my patent aforesaid, it will be evident that its use is not confined to this particular purpose, as it is capable of demonstrating the contour relations of the heel-part and forepart of any last, or style of shoe. Also, it will be understood that my invention is capable of a wide range of embodiments, the essential feature being to substitute for the theoretical draftsmans projection, or expert last-makers bottom pattern chart, a mechanical indicator or demonstrator which will tangibly designate and illustrate to the un skilled the effect which the shifting of the heel lines laterally in one direction or the other will have on the position of the foot in the shoe when made. The skilled lastmodel maker readily understands the importance and effect of a slight shifting of the heel line and back center of a last, but the average wearer of shoes cannot appreciate such variations or differences until he gets the shoe on his foot. And, even then, he realizes merely that the shoe is comfortable or uncomfortable, and does, or does not, run over toward the outside, but usually cannot point to the cause. The object of my invention is to enable him to ascertain tl ese matters beforehand, and to enable the shoeman readily and clearly to demonstrate the same.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a last, of indicating means to indicate visually the center line of the last with relation to the heel contour.

2. The combination with a last, of an indi cator bar to indicate visually the center line of the last with relation to the heel contour.

3. The combination with a last, of an indi cator bar extending rigidly from the heel over the top of the last to indicate visually the center line of the last with relation to the heel contour.

4. A device for the purpose set forth, comprising means showing the heel cont-our, and means coo erating therewith to indicate the axial direction of a foot in a shoe having said heel contour.

5. A device for the purpose set forth, con1- age 3 prising means showing the outline of a forepart, mechanism showing the outline of a heel-part, including means for varying the position of the heel-part outline with relation to the forepart outline, and means for visually indicating the direction a foot controlled by said heel-part outline would be compelled to take with relation to the forepart outline in the varying positions of said heel-part outline.

6. A device for the purpose set forth, consisting of a forepart, and mechanism at the rear end of said forepart for visually indicating the direction of the center line of the last, including means capable of showing the heelpart outline in at least two different positions with relation to the forepart, and means connected therewith extending from the rear end of the last longitudinally over the last for pointing out the vertical plane of said center ine in each of said different positions'of the heel-part outline.

7. In a device for the purpose set forth, a heel-part having a forwardly extending indicator bar bent vertically at its rear end and immovably secured to said heel-part.

8. In a device for the purpose set forth, a heel-part having a vertical slit in its back, and an indicator bar set into said vertical slit and bent forwardly at its free end beyond the heel-part.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence 01 two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST A. EASTMAN.

\Vitnesses HOWARD G. KEMPER, W. H. H. EeKr. 

